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Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that a wolf once caught hold of a goat which the shepherd was later able to free upon attacking it. The wolf then ran to the top of a hill and said, “O Shepherd! Allah Ta’ala had given me sustenance yet you’ve taken it away from me!” The shepherd remarked in astonishment, “I’ve not witnessed anything more amazing and astonishing than a wolf speaking to me today in Arabic,” to which the wolf replied, “Even more astonishing than this is that you are attending to animals while the greatest and most excellent Prophet to ever come in this world is ignored by you. Know that all doors of Paradise are open and all the inmates of Paradise are witnessing the glory of his and his Companions’ Jihad. There’s the distance of just one valley between you and him, so it is best for you to go to him and become a soldier in the army of Allah.” He then asked that if he had to go to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then who would look after his livestock, and the wolf replied, “I shall take care of them until you return.” Thus the shepherd found Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Sahaabah engaged in Jihad, just as the wolf had said, and became a Muslim. After he related this incident to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), the Beloved Master (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “Go, you shall find your animals safe and sound,” and thus upon his return, he found them to be safe and guarded by the wolf. In sheer happiness, he slaughtered a goat and presented it to the wolf, who then ate it and went away. [Zarqaani]
A camel was once making a loud noise while Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was present in the garden of an Ansari, which later began to sob after seeing Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), with tears falling from its eyes. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) went near to it and stroked its head with his blessed hands, upon which it became content and silent. He then enquired of the owner of the camel and was told that it belonged to a certain Ansari, who was immediately called for and said to, “Allah Ta’ala has granted you people control over these animals. Thus it is obligatory on you to show mercy to them. Your camel has complained to me that you give it little food and make it work more than its ability.” [Abu Dawood]
A female deer that lived in the forest with two of its fawns was once walking somewhere when she got caught in a trap and was powerless to escape. In this state of desperation, she fortunately saw Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) advancing towards her and cried out, “O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), have mercy on me.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) heard her plea and asked, “What do you need?” The deer responded, “I am caught in a trap while my two children are at a mountain nearby. Release me and let me feed them one last time. You have my guarantee that I’ll return afterwards.”
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “I’ll free you and wait here. Come as soon as you are finished.” He then released the deer and stood by the trap in wait.
While it was gone, the hunter of the trap, who was not a Muslim, appeared and was informed by Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) of the entire incident. The man replied, “It won’t be good if that deer doesn’t return.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) responded, “You’ll see for yourself whether it returns or not.”
As promised, after feeding its fawns, the deer returned to the trap and placed its head on the feet of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Seeing this miracle, the hunter then too lowered his head and accepted Islam, making both him and the deer recipients of Rasoolullah’s (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) mercy. [Shifa Shareef ]
We see from this that even the animals obeyed and respected Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). What then can be said of those so called Muslims who have no respect for our Beloved Master (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)? They are even worse than the beasts!
After the Battle of Khaibar, as Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was making his way back home, a donkey presented itself to him and said, “O Prophet of Allah, hear my plea.” How could the Mercy unto the Worlds not accept its request?! Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) stopped in his tracks and asked, “What do you wish for?” The donkey replied, “My name is Yazeed ibn Shihaab. Allah Ta’ala placed me in the 60th generation of my family’s lineage, and all of my ancestors had a Prophet travel upon them except me. Ya Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), I too desire having you ride on me. You may even say I am deserving of this, since just as how I’m the last of my family, so too are you the last of the Prophets.” Hearing this, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) accepted the donkey’s request, rode on it, and changed its name to Ya’foor. [Hujjatullah Alal Aalameen]
An Ansari’s camel once became stubborn, with none able to control it as it began to attack people. People informed Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) of this who then wished to approach it, but they pleaded with him, “O Prophet of Allah, this camel is attacking and biting people like a rabid dog.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “I have no fear for it,” and proceeded in its direction. Upon seeing Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) the camel proceeded to bow its head in Sajdah and Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) thereafter stroked its head with his blessed hand, causing it to become completely quiet and subservient. He then held the camel and gave it to its owner saying, “Every creation of Allah believes and accepts that I am the Messenger of Allah, except Kuffaar jinn and humans.” [Mishkaat Shareef; Zarqaani]
Therefore A’la Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) wrote in a Naath Shareef:
Chaand Shaq Ho Per Bole Jaanwar Sajdah Kare, Baarakallah Marja’e Aalam Yahi Sarkaar He
The moon splits, the trees speak, the animals prostrate, May Allah Bless you, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is a refuge for the entire creation.
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that a Bedouin from the Banu Sulaim once passed by the gathering of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the Noble Companions. He had with him a lizard which he had captured from the jungle and asked who the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was. When the Sahaabah informed him who Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was, he replied, “Oath on Laath and Uzza! I will bring Imaan upon you when this lizard of mine does so.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) asked the lizard who its Lord was. It replied, “My Lord is the Lord whose splendour is visible in the heavens and His power and authority is present on the earth. His mercy is in Jannah and His anger in Jahannam.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then asked, “Who am I?” The lizard replied, “You are the Seal of Prophets and the Messenger of the Lord of the Universe. Whoever believes in you shall be successful and whoever does not shall be rejected.” After witnessing this Mu’jiza, the Bedouin accepted Islam. [Zarqaani]
May Allah Ta’ala grant us true love and respect for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), as was possessed by the animals, Ameen.
